(Porter County, IN) - Chesterton Police officers acted in self-defense during an exchange of gunfire with a man shot multiple times nearly two months ago.

 

That’s the ruling of Porter County Prosecutor Gary Germann after he reviewed the findings of the Indiana State Police investigation. 

 

After shot, the suspect, 45 year old Joseph Gerber, died when he turned the gun on himself, authorities said.

 

Germann ruled the officers acted in self-defense by returning fire after one of the officers was shot by the suspect, who also had a lot of methamphetamine in his system.

 

Officers were called to a hotel where Gerber was reported to be an “unwanted guest.”

 

Germann said Gerber was asked to leave then while fleeing on foot shot the officer, Nolan Mancera, who is now home and expected to recover.

 

At the time, Gerber had a warrant out for his arrest for allegedly violating the terms of his home detention for a previous offense.